Flash flooding possible in metro Atlanta and Peachtree City area this Sunday and Monday

The first weekend of October is shaping up to be the wettest in recent memory for Peachtree City and the broader metro Atlanta area, with forecasters warning that Sunday's all-day rain could trigger street flooding — and that the heaviest totals are still hard to pin down.

The National Weather Service is tracking widespread rainfall of 1.5 to 3 inches across North Georgia from Friday through the middle of next week, with Middle Georgia potentially seeing up to 4.5 inches. Locally, some spots could top 4 inches or more, according to WSB-TV's Severe Weather Team 2.

The potential for heavy rainfall and perhaps localized flash flooding increases by Sunday and Monday, though uncertainty remains regarding the placement of heaviest rainfall.— National Weather Service

The rain arrives in stages. Friday brings only a 20 percent chance of afternoon showers, rising to 40 percent Friday night. Saturday starts drier — good news for morning plans — but scattered rain develops in the afternoon, with 80 percent coverage by Saturday night. Sunday is the main event: a 90 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms that forecasters say will affect the entire day, from morning commutes through evening.

The National Weather Service's Peachtree City office has flagged the potential for flash flooding in urban and low-lying areas, according to the multi-source web summary. Atlanta News First, which has issued First Alert Weather Days for both Saturday and Sunday, specifically warns that street flooding will be possible near areas with poor drainage and near creeks and streams.

Avoid driving through flooded roads — remember, just 6 inches of moving water can sweep a car away.— Atlanta News First

The moisture fueling the system is tropical in origin. According to AccuWeather, as reported by Patch, the storm train begins in eastern Texas on Thursday and pushes toward the East Coast by the weekend, bringing above-50-percent storm chances to several major Georgia cities through Monday night. Rain amounts could surpass 2 inches and reach more than 5 inches in some towns, AccuWeather said.

Temperatures will drop noticeably as the rain moves in — highs in the upper 80s Thursday and Friday give way to the mid-70s by Sunday, with lows dipping into the low 60s by Sunday night. There's a silver lining: by Tuesday, conditions dry out significantly, with mostly sunny skies and highs near 72 degrees expected.

Despite the wet start to the month, WSB-TV notes that October is typically the driest month of the year on average in Atlanta.

No active flood warnings are currently in effect for the upcoming weekend, though conditions remain subject to change, according to the multi-source web summary. Residents should monitor updates from the National Weather Service's Peachtree City office as the weekend approaches.

Why it matters — Residents of Peachtree City and surrounding areas face a real flash flooding risk Sunday into Monday and should plan travel and outdoor activities accordingly.

Reported by ajc.com, cbsnews.com, weatherbug.com, atlantanewsfirst.com, usatoday.com, wsbtv.com, patch.com, kornradio.com